Button-buckle dies



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 11, 1953 FIG.Z

m 7 & mm H E 5 9 GV u m 2 4 R t o F E G M M\ mm W B H 5 a M m a z 2 h I III! f L1H m 3 W 7 /4 0 8 8 W M 5 a Jan. 3, 1956 G. GOLDBERG 2,729,122

BUTTON-BUCKLE DIES Filed June 11, 1953 2 Sheets-Shem 2 FIG. I3

' GEORGE GOLDBERG Iil INVENTOR.

32 BY .Afid. a... FIG. l5 X United States 2,729,122 BUTTON-BUCKLE DIES GeorgeGoldberg, Fall River,Mass., assignor to Metacomet Manufacturing Company, Inc., a corporation of Massachusetts Application June 11, 1953, Serial No. 360,868 9 Claims. (Cl. 795) This invention is concerned with equipment for making cloth covered buttons or buckles. I

In the button and bucklemaking trade the conventional type foot press is used in conjunction with a die which can be taken from the press and changed to various sizes and styles of buttons. Accordingly when the material thickens, it is necessary to change the size of the die. Each die is quite expensive, and where it is necessary to change a die because the material to be used is thicker, it becomes expensive to make buttons and buckles, besides slowing down production until the proper die is made available.

It is an object of this invention to provide mechanical means for a button or buckle die whereby there will be a greater coefficient of cloth size.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a mechanical timer for button and buckle dies.

It is a further object of this invention to maintain low cost of production by providing a versatile attachment for button and buckle dies.

These and further objects are obtained by a mechanical arrangement. The finger that holds the sleeve in the top die on the old type die has been changed to include a can shape on the back side, and a device has been installed on the bottom die that holds the bottom die from collapsing until the cam shaped finger strikes its counterpart on the bottom die. The lower attachment has an adjusting device so that the distance can be changed, resulting in a change of the timing.

For a more detailed explanation of the invention ref: erence is made to the following description in which:

Figure l is a front elevational view of the conventional top die and lower die as they appear upon contact.

Figure 2 is a similar view to Figure l but with the thimble added.

Figure 3 is a view in cross section of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view in cross section of Figure 1 when the top die is under pressure from the foot press.

Figure 5 is a view in cross section of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a view in cross section of Figure 2 when the top die is under pressure from the foot press.

Figure 7 is a front elevational view of the lower die with the new mechanical timing attachment added.

Figure 8 is a side view of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a top view of Figure 7. j

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure l in cross section but with the mechanical timing attachment converted.

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 10 but with the top die under pressure of the foot press.

Figure 12 is a view with the thimble in position as in Figure 5 but with the mechanical timing attachment connected.

Figure 13 is the view of Figure 12 with the upper die under pressure of the foot press. V

Figure 14 is an exploded view of a typical button form with the cloth and retaining ring in perspective.

Figure 15 is a view in cross section of a covered button.

Before one can understand this invention, he must first be familiar with the known method and apparatus used to make buckles and buttons. Accordingly Figures l-6 are showings of the type of dies commonly used in the trade.

,The dies will be described first, then their operation, and then the improvement made by this invention.

The conventional die The conventional die is shown in Figures 1-6. There is actually an upper die and a lower die. The upper die comprises a threaded head 5 for securing to the head of the foot press. Integral with the threaded head 5 is a horizontal member 6 on one side of which is a finger 7. The finger 7 is mounted on a pivot 7a and is kept vertical under the tension of a small spring member 7b. Integral with member 6 is the vertical cylindrical membar 8. In member 8 is a vertical slot 8a. Circumscribing 8 is cylinder 9. In cylinder 9 is an opening 9a in which the pin 8b is located. The pin 8b passes from 9a into slot 8a in member 8 uniting members 8 and 9 together. Cylinder 9 has a shoulder 10 at. its lower portion. It is to be noted that the finger 7 has a right angle 20 cut out on its inner side. When this angle 20 is resting on shoulder 10 pin 8b is at the lower portion of slot 8a. When the angle 20 is not resting on 10, then the pin 8b is at thejtop of slot 8a and piston 8 has dropped down further in cylinder 9. Briefly the position of shoulder 10, controls the vertical position of the end 21 of piston 8.

The lower die comprises cylinder 11 which is complementary to cylinder 9. That is to say the end 22a of cylinder 11, with its recesses engages the end 21a of cylinder.9 with its recesses so that there is an .even fit as shown in the drawings. Inside of cylinder 11 is piston 13. Cylinder 11 has a narrow portion 12 to enable the heavy duty spring 14 to engage cylinder 12 and maintain it above piston 13. The spring 14 and piston 13 are secured to the base 15. An inlet 16 is located in the base 15 to enable the base 15 to be secured to the foot press. When the spring 14 is under compression, the cylinder 11-12 is lowered while the piston 13 remains fixed. Thus the top 22 of piston 13 is above cylinder ll l2when spring 14 is under compression.

After the first stroke of the foot press is completed (which will be explained subsequently), it is necessary to use the thimble 17 to complete the button. Because of the slope of thimble 17, the finger 7 is pushed out dropping piston 8. Inside of thimble 17 which is hollow is a piston 23. This piston can move up and down until its top 24 is even with the-top 17c of the thimble 17. The length of this movement is controlled by the same type pin arrangement as in the top die which is shown in Figure 3.

The pin is designated as 17a and the slot as 1712. When thepin 17a is at the bottom of the slot 17b, the end 24 of piston ,23 will go no higher and will be about even with top of the thimble 17.

Op era tion of the conventional die down.. The shoulder portion 10 of the upper die cons tacts the cylinder 11 of the lower die. The upper die continues under pressure and forces spring 14 under compression. The cylinder 11 is consequently pushed down by surface 21a of cylinder 9 of the upper die as shown in Figure 4. As can be seen from this figure,

, the piston 13 which is'stationary has its top 22 up into cylinder 9 upon .the full stroke and full compression of spring 14. The button form 30 underneath the cloth 31 is also pushed up into cylinder 9. Since the diameter of the cloth 31 is cut larger than the diameter or the button 30, and since the diameter of cylinder 9 is only slightly larger than the button 30, the cloth 31 is wrapped Fatented Jan. 3, 1956 finger 7 has remained under tensionofits-spring7bresting on shoulder at angle-20. As-mentionedpreviously this maintains cylinder 9 below-the end 21 of piston 8. As a result of this the-clothcovered buttonform instead of returning to the lower die assembly remains snugly up within the recesses ofcylinder- 9 inside the shoulder portion 10.

To summarize, upon completion of the first stroke, the button form 30 is covered-by: cloth 31 and is. frictionally held in the upper die within shoulder 10 of cylinder 9.

In preparation for thesecond strokethe operator places-the thimble 17 atop the surface'22a of thelower die. He then places the bottom shell 32 of the-button atop recesses 24:: in thimble 17. Heis'now ready forthe second stroke.

The operator presses the pedal of the press withhis foot.

of the thimble 17. The piston 8 drops downeven with the cylinder end 21a (Figure 5). button form at the ridge of th'e thimble-17 atopbottom As the top die assembly'engages thethimble. 17' the finger 7 is forced away. because of-the surface 17d- This places-the covered shell 32. As the stroke proceeds, the spring 14 goesunder compression, and cylinder 11" goes-down aroundstationary piston 13. The thimble 17 under pressure also goes down around stationary piston 13'; Piston 23 in contact with piston 13 (Fig. 6) moves up in thimble '17;

As piston 23 moves up, the bottom shell'32 engages the It forces the cloth inside the covered form and 31. rim of the form 30 (Figure 15 As the strokeis completed the rim or form 30 is pressed about-the bottom shell 32. The operator releases the press-and the upper die disengages the thimble and returns, to normal. button is now covered and completed."

The improvement to the-die- Because the conventional typeof die just'described;

fouls up on the second strokewhen the; goods or cloth is thicker than ordinary, rather than makea new die because of this, an attachmentto the abovedescribed diehas been invented which insures the makingof proper buttons. The main difierence between the new die and theprevious die-is that the timing iscontrolled mechanically in accordance withthe positionzof the strokewhile the only timing control previously was the=.spring:14.

This spring has to be stronggenoughatototfset the frictionof the goods in the top die. I f the spring istoo heavy, the die closes too early; and if it is too'light, the die closestoolate, sothat variancesdn the thickness, or-the friction of-the material either requiresa new die altogether, or the operator has-to assistthedieby-holding the sleeve or cylinder of the bottomdie in an up position sothat the spring can not collapse prematurely. In most cases this is a strain on'the'operator; with asubsequent loss in production.

Since the new timing-mechanism is-automatic, varying thickness and frictions have noeffect whatsoever on the operationof'the die, and therefore it is Iesstiringfor the operator. Accordingly one .die canbeused for various materials. Since the timing is automatic the die operates a very light spring on the bottom die. The spring need be strong enough only to return the top sleeve to its open position.

Actually the timing mechanism isiattached to the lower die. Figures7-9 show itsconstructionr The heavy spring 14 is replaced by a muclrlighter Attachedto the-base 15, is a .,fixed hinge spring 14a. member 42. Thisis secured'to the base 15'by b1o1ts43;

The

Hinged to the fixed member 42 is a vertical member 37. There is a recess 40a in the lower part of member 37: This fits over extended portion 40 of fixed member 42. A hinge bolt 38 passes through member 37, extended portion 40 of 42 and againthrough the opposite side of 37. It is secured bylock nut 41. Mounted above 37 is L shaped member 34. Member 34 is adjustably secured to 37, that is .to'say, the height'of L member 34 may be raised or lowered. At one end is a pin 45a whichfits into a bore 45b in member 37. This pin is not threaded. A threaded pin 45 passes to member 34 into opening 46 of vertical member 37 and into a threaded bore 45c in 37. A head 36 enables one to turn threaded pin 45. As this pin turns L member 34 is raised or lowered. The extended portion of L member 34 has a slightly sloped surface 35 for a purpose which will be explained later. Stop members 44' are attached to cylinder 11 proximate to L member 34. In order to maintain L member 34 in a vertical position on the hinge arrangement, a spring 39 is employed. It is inserted in an opening in base 15 and is wrapped around bolt 38, then passes on the outside of member 37 and is terminated on the other end of bolt 38; In order for the mechanism to work, stop members 44 must be directly over slope 35 of L member 34. Consequently spring 39 plays an important part in the successful operation of this timing mechanism.

In the top die (see Figure l0) the finger 7 has to be changed so that it hasa lower slope-47 which enables it team as a feeler cam as well as a control for the piston 8.

The operation of the timing mechanism On the first stroke, when the goods are wrapped around the button form, and then left in the upper die, it is not necessary to have any timing help. Accordingly on the first stroke, slope 47 of finger 7 cans the timing mechanism on its hinge against the tension of its spring 39. (See Figure 10.) The mechanism is pushed away and the light spring 14a is under complete compression. (See Figure ll.) Because of this first stroke, it was necessary to design the mechanism so that it would automatically move away. This is the reason for the hinge arrangement, and the opening between the stop members 44, so that finger 7 can pass between members 44 and the slope 47 on finger 7 can push away L member 34.

On the second stroke, the timing is most important since this is the stroke when the bottom shell 32 of the button is combined with the covered button form. If the cloth is too thick, it will not combine unless the timing is proper. Accordingly this is how the timing mechanism operates on the second stroke.

The thimble 17 is placed on the lower die in the usual manne The bottom shell 32 is placed on upper recesses 24a of thimble 17. The operator presscs the pedal'and the upper die comes down,

Finger 7 (Figure 12) is pushed out against the tension of itsspring because of surface 17;! on thimble 17. Piston 8 drops down into cylinder 9, pushing the covered button form down into the top of thimble 17. Instead of a continuing action, there is a slight delay because of stop member 44.on surface 35 of L member 34 (Figure 12). As the pressure increases L member 34 takes the path of least resistance which is outward against the ten: sion of its spring 39. When it is out sufficiently, surface 35 is clear of stop members 44, and the final action takes place. Howeverwhile L member 34 is being pushed out. there is a sufiicient time delay for bottom shell 32 to engage the covered button form 30. Even though the cloth may be thicker than that for which the die is designed, the maintaining of the lower die in the fixed position affords no opportunity for the cloth to unfold and foul the making of the button. The delay having been made by the members 44 and surface 35 and the bottom shell32 having slowly but surely engaged the button, the only action needed is to squeeze button form 39andtshell 32 into an integral form. This comes about upon the collapse of spring 14a (Figure 13). Piston 23 moves up in thimble 17 as cylinder 11 of the bottom die and thimble 17 move down under pressure of the upper die. Accordingly the button form which is between surface 21 of piston 8 and surface 24 of piston 23, is under maximum pressure. The outside edges of the button form 30 are pushed inwardly and the edges of bottom shell 32 are pushed outwardly in the conventional manner squeezing the cloth and making the completed button. The operator releases his foot and the upper die returns to normal position for the beginning of a new cycle.

It is to be noted that during the time delay when members 44 are pushing against the surface 35 of L member 34, there is no upward pressure by piston 23. There is only downward pressure of piston 8 against the button form. Since the bottom shell 32 sets in the upper recesses of thimble 17 and not on the surface 24 at this point, there is no chance for the cloth 31 to go anywhere except between the button form 30 and the bottom shell 32.: As in the old type die the pressure would also be exerted by piston 24 and accordingly the cloth could be pinched so that it would stick out instead of in. This is quite true when the cloth is thicker than that for which the die is designed.

When the cloth is unusually thick or has a high friction characteristic it may be necessary to control the timing to a longer period. This can be done by the raising or the lowering of the height of L member 34. This is accomplished by turning head 36 as mentioned previously. Figure 12 shows that if the L member is higher, then finger 7 at its surface 47 will have a shorter distance to travel to kick the L member 34 out from under members 44. Accordingly the time delay caused by member 34 and slope 35 can be shortened by raising the height of L member 34. It follows that it can be lengthened by reducing the height of L member 34. The actual adjustment will depend upon the type of cloth covering used.

It is important to point out here that the fact that since the lower die will not break for a short period of time, this delay of time, enables the bottom shell of the button to engage and grip the button form. Heretofore, the stroke was so fast that the button shell was squeezed before the two parts could properly engage. This of course fouled any buttons that were not of the exact thickness for which the die had been designed.

I claim:

1. An improvement for a button-buckle type die comprising an upper die, a spring biased lower die, and a thimble on said lower die, said upper die having a finger, said finger having a bottom portion sloping upwardly from the center axis of the die, said lower die having a cylinder, extended means attached to said cylinder, a base, a member hingedly connected to said base, and means on said member for blocking said extended means whereby said lower die may be prevented from being forced down against said spring bias.

2. An improvement for a button-buckle type die comprising an upper die, a spring biased lower die, and a thimble on said lower die, said upper die having a finger, said finger having a bottom portion, said bottom portion having a slope upwardly from the center axis of the die, said lower die having a cylinder, an abutment fastened to said cylinder, a base, a member hingedly connected to said base, a spring means for maintaining said member in a perpendicular position, and means on said member beneath said abutment for blocking said abutment whereby said lower die may be prevented from being forced down against the spring bias.

3. A time delay device for a button-buckle type die comprising a lower die, an upper die, and a thimble on said lower die, a finger on said upper die, said finger having a bottom portion sloping upwardly from the center axis of the die, said lower die having an abutment, a base,

an L-shaped member hingedly connected to said base, and beneath said abutment a spring means for maintaining said member in a perpendicular position whereby said L-shaped member blocks said abutment until said finger forces said L-shaped member away against the tension of said spring means.

4. A time delay device for a button-buckle type die comprising an upper die, a collapsible type lower die and a thimble on said lower die, a base, said lower die being mounted on said base, an L-shaped member hingedly mounted on said base, a spring for maintaining said L- shaped member perpendicular to said base, an abutment on said lower die above the horizontal portion of said L- shaped member, a finger mounted on said upper die, said finger having a bottom portion sloped upwardly from the center axis of said die, said bottom portion of said finger being used for pushing said L-shaped member away from said abutment whereby a time delay takes place until the abutment is clear of the L-shaped member.

5. A time delay device as recited in claim 4 wherein said L-shaped member has a height adjustment consisting of a threaded pin and nut whereby the time delay may be lengthened or shortened.

6. An adjustable time delay device for a button-buckle type die comprising an upper die, a collapsible type lower die, and a thimble on said lower die, a base, said lower die mounted on said base, an L-shaped member hingedly mounted on said base, means for raising or lowering said L-shaped member, a spring means for maintaining said L-shaped member perpendicular to said base, an abutment on the lower die extending over the bottom of said L- shaped member, a finger mounted on said upper die having an upward slope, said upward slope upon engaging said L-shaped member for pushing said L-shaped member away from said abutment, whereby there is a time delay until said L member is away from said abutment.

7. A device for delaying the second stroke in a button buckle type die operation and designed to allow the first stroke of the operation to proceed conventionally comprising an upper die, a finger attached to the upper die, said finger having a cam type surface on its lower portion, an abutment means on the lower die, a base, a stop member hingedly connected to the base, a spring means for keeping said stop member beneath said abutment, said finger upon contacting said stop member on the stroke of the upper die forcing said stop member away from said abutment.

8. A device as recited in claim 7 wherein said abutment means has an opening to receive said finger.

9. An adjustable time delay device for a button-buckle type die comprising an upper die, a lower die, biased by a spring and a thimble on said lower die, a base, said lower die mounted on said base, a collar means, hinged means for mounting said collar means on said base, adjustable means for raising or lowering the height of said collar means, a spring means for maintaining said collar means perpendicular to said base, an extension means on said lower die and located above said collar means, said upper die having a finger for pushing said collar means from said extension means, said finger having a bottom portion, said bottom portion being sloped upwardly from the center axis of said die, whereby said slope, said hinge means, and said collar means combine to cause a time delay in the ultimate forcing down of said lower die against the spring bias.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 382,786 Wittig May 15, 1888 466,304 Heuser Dec. 29, 1891 1,197,384 Menkin Sept. 5, 1916 1,256,615 Talnoper Feb. 19, 1918 1,296,767 Cohn Mar. 11, 1919 1,431,260 Rosen Oct. 10, 1922 

